ABB invests R1.7 million in computer centre for rural school in Free State

2017-04-10 - ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has invested in a new R1.7 million computer centre for a rural primary school, Intabazwe Intermediate School near Harrismith, Free State Province.

The community investment project forms part of the social and economic development programme linked to the Eskom order that was awarded to ABB (PTY) Ltd for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of electrical auxiliaries at Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme in 2010. Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme (PSS) is on the border of the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.

"As a technology company, ABB is highly aware of the need to equip young learners with computer and Internet skills," says Leon Viljoen, ABB South Africa MD. "The Internet of Things (IOT) is growing exponentially and resulting in new ways of collaborating and working. It is essential that our country's young learners prepare themselves for the opportunities that lie ahead."

The computer centre will include personal computers for 44 learners. Each desktop arrangement will include a PC, display, keyboard and mouse. The thin-client PCs will work from a central server. The educator for the computer centre will have access to their own PC complete with related software and will be able to display lessons on an overhead projector.

ABB has supplied the computer centre with specialised maths and English tutorials for the learners to assist in raising the level of these subjects. To assist educators at the school, ABB is providing Computer Assisted Training (CAT) programs as well as the latest Windows Office packages such as Excel and Word.

"Because maths is an important requirement for entry into higher education and fields such as engineering, medicine and science, ABB is helping to improve mathematics teaching and learning in public schools," says Viljoen.

ABB has supplied computer-based maths tutorials to urban and rural schools in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.

In the past three years ABB in South Africa has invested more than R4.5 million, including financial contributions, specialised electrical equipment and maths educational software, in communities where it has operations and has completed large power and automation projects.

About the ABB South Africa community investment program:
ABB South Africa has a community investment program that invests in education, health and environmental projects working through partnerships with NGOs, not-for-profit organisations and community based organisations to provide support and upliftment for historically disadvantaged communities. The ABB Educational Trust provides bursaries to Black South African women in commercial and engineering fields of study.

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in electrification products, robotics and motion, industrial automation and power grids, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing more than a 125-year history of innovation, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization and driving the Energy and Fourth Industrial Revolutions. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 132,000 employees. www.abb.com